Local Democrats announce run for New Mexico Legislature

Two local Democrats announced they are once again running for seats in the New Mexico Legislature.

Silver City Town Councilor Guadalupe Cano announced she will seek the District 38 House seat held by Republican Dianne Hamilton. Cano sought the Democratic nomination in the district in 2012 but was defeated in the party’s primary by Terry Fortenberry. Fortenberry went on to run unsuccessful bids against Hamilton in 2012 and 2014.

In addition, Rodolpho “Rudy’ Martinez has said he will try to retake the District 39 seat from Rep. John Zimmerman, a Republican who defeated Martinez during the 2014 general election. Martinez served in the House for seven years.

The announcements came during the Democrats’ Grant County Convention on Saturday. According to a news release, “Frances Vasquez was elected Grant County Democratic chair and Shelby Hallmark vice chair by proclamation.’ Vasquez is president of the Silver Consolidated School District Board of Education. Five members of the State Central Committee were also elected, according to the press release. Magdaleno Manzanarez, Cano, Mary Hotvedt, Bill Hudson, and Linda Pafford were selected for the committee, with Lindee Lenox as alternate. The release states the State Central Committee will meet in Albuquerque next month to elect a new state chair and other officers.

Neomi Parra, vice chair from the Hidalgo County Democratic Party, announced her candidacy for state party secretary.